"Tucker's Daughter" is the debut single by Australian rock singer and guitarist, Ian Moss. It was released in November 1988[1] almost five years after his group, Cold Chisel, had disbanded for the first time. It is co-written by Moss and Don Walker (also from Cold Chisel).[2][3][4] The song was the lead single from Moss' debut studio album, Matchbook (1989).
| "Tucker's Daughter" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Ian Moss | ||||
| from the album Matchbook | ||||
| B-side | "Islands" | |||
| Released | 7 November 1988[1] | |||
| Recorded | September 1988 | |||
| Studio | Ocean Way Recording, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 4:36 | |||
| Label | Mushroom | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Ian Moss singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Reception
editAt the ARIA Music Awards of 1990 "Tucker's Daughter" was nominated for three awards and won two; Breakthrough Artist – Single and Song of the Year. The song was also nominated for Single of the Year.[5]
In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "Tucker's Daughter" was ranked number 99.[6]
Background and lyrics
editThe lyrics of "Tucker's Daughter" tell the story of a farm labourer who finds himself the attention of his employer's daughter, but he does not return her affections.
Moss had initially written the music to the song less than a fortnight before recording on his debut album was about to commence. He said, "I was pretty confident I had a good hit here. I was literally running around the house going 'yahoo!', jumping up and clicking my heels."[7]
Walker described in 2005 how Moss had sent him pieces of music including certain phrases that he wanted included in places within the song, "Ian sent "Tucker's Daughter" on a cassette [by] express airmail from Los Angeles where he was, and he had the melody but the only lyric he had was, 'Hey there, motherfucker.' Right through the rest of the song. I couldn't use that, but I recognized that it had a certain percussive force".[8]
In September 2007 Moss told a reporter at The Herald Sun newspaper that he was dissatisfied with his entry at Wikipedia: "About 95 per cent of the stories I read say Don Walker wrote it, but I wrote it too. I wrote the music and the punch line. 'Build me up, tear me down'. I'm not sure how to edit Wikipedia, but I will get on to that and change it."[4]
Music video
editThe start of the video depicts Tucker's daughter, a young woman, played by actress Tasma Walton[9] walking through a field. Several scenes feature Ian Moss singing and playing his guitar inside a barn. Although Moss does not react to the woman's affection in the lyrics; three black and white scenes during the video depict the two having a romantic encounter.
Track listing
edit7" Single (K690)
- Side A "Tucker's Daughter" - 4:35
- Side B "Islands" - 4:42
Charts
editWeekly charts
edit| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[10] | 2 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] | 6 |
Year-end charts
edit| Chart (1989) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[12] | 15 |
| Australian Artist (ARIA) | 2 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[13] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ a b "Australian Music Report No 745 – 7 November 1988 > New Releases: Singles". Imgur.com (original document published by Australian Music Report). Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- ^ "'Tucker's Daughter' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 13 February 2017. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' or 'Performer:'
- ^ Moss, Ian; Walker, Don (1988). "'Tucker's Daughter'". Mushroom Records. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
'Tucker's Daughter' / Ian Moss – Don Walker: [performed by] Ian Moss. 'Islands' / [written and performed by] Ian Moss
. - ^ a b "Moss wants no.1 credit". The Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. 17 September 2007. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- ^ "Winners by Year 1990". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ "Here Are The Songs That Made Triple M's 'Ozzest 100'". Musicfeeds. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- ^ Greg Taylor (20 August 1989). "Moss in charge". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 142.
- ^ Kruger, Debbie (2005). Songwriters Speak: Conversations About Creating Music. Balmain, NSW: Limelight Press. p. 285. ISBN 0-9757080-3-1.
- ^ "Ian Moss celebrates Matchbook's 30th anniversary". Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "Ian Moss – TUCKER'S DAUGHTER". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- ^ "Ian Moss – TUCKER'S DAUGHTER". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- ^ "ARIA 1989 singles chart". ARIA. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
